Celebrating 100 Years of Bat Mitzvah in the age of B Mitzvah

A Workshop, Curriculum and Conversation for Educators and Clergy

On March 18-19, 2022, Jewish communities across North America celebrated the 100th Anniversary of the first American Bat Mitzvah, and the bat mitzvah girls who paved the way for all women and Jews of all genders to participate in Jewish communal life. 

To help you celebrate, Moving Traditions held a workshop on March 10, 2022 with VP of Program Pam Barkley, and an all-star panel of educators who shared ideas on how you can commemorate this important moment in women’s and Jewish history, and reflect on emerging post-binary, gender expansive perspectives. 

The webinar: 

  • Introduced a new curricular session designed for 5th grade+ with colorful context for the celebration of 100 years of Bat Mitzvah in America (created in partnership with Jewish Women’s Archive/Society for the Advancement of Judaism’s Rise Up Bat Mitzvah at 100)
  • Exchanged ideas about how adolescents are navigating a new gender landscape, connecting to feminism, and relating to their parents  
  • Reflected on the meaning of this conversation for those of us guiding students as they engage with Tefillah, interpret Torah, and experience the coming-of-age rituals of Jewish life

View a recording of the webinar

Click here to read Rabbi Tamara Cohen’s insightful Torah commentary in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the bat mitzvah.

Co-sponsored by: 

 

Featuring: 

Rabbi Dr. Carole Balin, Professor Emerita of Jewish History HUC-JIR/NYC 

Rabbi Dena Klein, Managing Director, New Models at The Jewish Education Project and board member of Moving Traditions

Reed Kolber, facilitator for the Moving Traditions’ Tzelem B-Mitzvah program in Los Angeles for gender expansive students and their families

Cantor Annelise Ocanto-Romo, Ohev Shalom of Bucks